3 pending free agents the Vegas Golden Knights should avoid in NHL free agency

1. Patrick Kane

Patrick Kane has been an incredible forward in the NHL for the past decade and beyond. The legendary Chicago Blackhawk has scored 471 goals, won the Hart Trophy in 2016, and has appeared in nine NHL All-Star Games. However, there are some reasons why the Vegas Golden Knights would be better off not signing Kane.

For one, he's 35 years old and is seeing a dip in his production. He scored 20 goals and added 27 assists for the Detroit Red Wings this season, doing this in 50 games. While this sounds nice from a hockey perspective, it's a far cry from when the nine-time All-Star would produce 80-point seasons with Chicago.

Some hockey players can get away with consistent production at an old age (see Joe Pavelski). But these types of players are hard to come by, with Kane seeing his production fall in recent years. Besides, there are younger players on the market like Jake Guentzel who can provide solid production.

Kelly McCrimmon's goal is extending the contention window with younger talent and moving out older pieces. That's what happened with Reilly Smith last summer, as the former Misfit was moved to Pittsburgh. Adding Kane to the mix will only slow down the Golden Knights, similar to what happened when they signed Phil Kessel in 2022.